Part of NS Norfolk based squadrons on the move

The US Navy Commander, Airborne Command & Control and Logistics Wing based at Naval Station Norfolk/Chambers Field (VA) will temporarily shift to NAS Oceana (VA) as a major resurfacing of the runway at Chambers Field gets underway.

The USD 16.9 million project started 1 March 2021 and includes resurfacing the runway, updating the electrical infrastructure, replacing navigational aides, and upgrading signage. Work will be done by 30 June 2021.

Logically, during the construction works, the base will be closed to fixed-wing aircraft operations, so all E-2C Hawkeye, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound squadrons of Norfolk were moved to nearby Oceana. The Norfolk based helicopter squadrons are not affected in their operations by the construction works and they are able to continue flights from their homebase.

Air Mobility Command passenger operations and cargo operations that normally go through Norfolk will temporarily move to respectively Baltimore-Washington International Airport (MD) and Joint Base Charleston (SC).

A spokesman of the US Navy said that resurfacing a runway is a task that usually happens every fifteen years. It was last done at NS Norfolk in 2005. Since then, the US Navy logged an average of 44,000 take-offs and landings per year, making it one of the busiest military runways on the East Coast.

The following squadrons will be temporary based at Oceana.

VAW-120       C-2A NP, E-2C+(E-2NP), E-2C-II (E-2C 2000-NP), E-2D    Greyhawks    AD-xxx
VAW-121       E-2D    Bluetails        AG-60x
VAW-123       E-2C+  Screwtops    AC-60x - currently deployed on board USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
VAW-124       E-2C+  Bear Aces     AJ-60x    
VAW-126       E-2D    Seahawks     AB-60x
VRC-40         C-2A     Rawhides     (JK-)xx